THIS is what Grimsby's new swimming pool will look like – if the council goes ahead with plans to replace Scartho Baths.
These artists impressions of the proposed £8.4 million facility will today be presented to councillors, who will also consider the results of a public consultation on North East Lincolnshire's sport and leisure facilities.
The three-week consultation was triggered by a petition signed by more than 7,000 people opposing the plan to close Scartho Swimming Pool.
As reported, the council announced earlier this year that the Scartho Road pool would close and be replaced by a new pool next to the existing Grimsby Leisure Centre, in Cromwell Road, as part of a £9 million revamp of leisure facilities.
Council leader Chris Shaw told the Grimsby Telegraph that he still believed this was the right decision, but insisted that the ruling Labour administration would "take heed" of responses to the consultation.
The proposed new two-storey swimming pool complex, which has been designed by sport and leisure specialists Faulknerbrowns Architects, will include:
An eight-lane 25m county competition standard swimming pool
Seating for 250 spectators and a further 250 competitors
Easy access 17x7m learner pool
A 60-station gym on the upper floor
A fitness studio that can be split into two separate rooms
Separate wet and dry changing rooms and fully fitted disability changing rooms
Dry sauna on the upper floor
Reception, office, staff rooms and refreshment area
Councillor Shaw said that the new pool would boast two more lanes, a larger total pool area of 544 square metres, and more spectator seating than the current facility.
He added that although there is currently no plan to have a diving board and diving pool – a facility the current pool does have – Councillor Shaw said the authority will reconsider if the necessary £1.5 million can be obtained from the Government in Olympic Legacy funding.
However, a decision on that bid would have to be known before building on the new pool started, in order for the roof to be raised to the required height to accommodate a 10m diving board.
Scartho Baths will remain open to the public until the new centre is built. If approved, the new building is expected to open in three years time.
The proposals form part of the first phase of the council's sport and leisure facilities programme. Subject to available funding, phase two would cover the replacement of key elements of Grimsby Leisure Centre, such as the sports hall and indoor bowling alley.
Councillor Shaw said: "The decision we took was to close Scartho Swimming Pool and build a new pool next to Grimsby Leisure Centre.
"If the consultation says that decision was wrong than we will take heed of that. We were going to charge people £25 to have their brown bins emptied but we didn't because we listen to what people say."
Today's special meeting of the tourism, leisure and scrutiny panel will take place at Grimsby Town Hall at 10am.
The panel will make a recommendation to Cabinet, which will meet on Monday, December 10.
See tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph for coverage of the meeting.
